Major League Baseball‘s latest gambling scandal continues to widen as new details surface about the investigation involving Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz.
While the alleged betting scheme only recently became public, Clase had already drawn the league’s attention for a separate violation tied to the use of his personal cell phone during games.
According to The Athletic, MLB reprimanded Clase at least once for impermissible phone use before investigators uncovered his alleged connection to gamblers.
League rules strictly limit when players may access mobile devices, a policy designed to protect the integrity of games and prevent the flow of inside information.
“The Athletic has learned that MLB reprimanded Clase for impermissible cell phone use at least once before knowledge of the gambling issues came to light, according to two people briefed on his situation who were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject.”
Those restrictions have long been part of MLB‘s operations manual. As prosecutors emphasized in court filings, “With limited exceptions for personal use … MLB rules also prohibited MLB players from utilizing cellular telephones during MLB games.”
What initially appeared to be a minor disciplinary matter now sits within a far more serious federal case. Clase is charged with conspiring with gamblers to intentionally fix pitches during games, allegedly allowing bettors to profit from manipulated outcomes.
Authorities claim that more than $400,000 in winnings were generated through the scheme. Clase and Ortiz face charges including wire fraud and bribery, according to federal indictments reviewed by multiple outlets.
Gambling concerns escalate across professional sports
Investigators allege that Clase began providing money and non public information to bettors as early as 2023, with Ortiz joining the operation in 2025.
Both players have pleaded not guilty, and their legal teams maintain that the accusations are unproven. MLB has declined to comment in detail, citing the ongoing legal process, but the league has reaffirmed its cooperation with federal authorities.
The case has landed amid a turbulent year for professional sports. Across leagues, 2025 has become a flashpoint for concerns about the influence of gambling on competition.
Earlier this year, the FBI confirmed a probe into illegal betting activities connected to NBA games, a development first reported by outlets such as ESPN and Reuters.
High profile names followed, with former NBA star Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier among those indicted on federal charges related to betting conspiracies.
For baseball, the scandal revives uncomfortable memories. The sport’s history includes some of the most infamous gambling cases in American athletics.
The 1919 Black Sox Scandal saw eight Chicago White Sox players accused of throwing the World Series in exchange for bribes, a crisis that reshaped the league’s governance.
Decades later, Pete Rose received a lifetime ban in 1989 after evidence emerged that he bet on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds.
What makes the current situation different is the scale and timing. Legal sports betting has expanded rapidly across the United States, increasing both access and temptation.
League officials have responded by tightening regulations, expanding education programs, and enforcing strict bans on gambling by players and staff.
Still, the allegations against Clase and Ortiz underscore the challenges leagues face in protecting competitive integrity.
As investigations continue and court proceedings unfold, MLB and other professional sports organizations are bracing for further scrutiny in a year already defined by its reckoning with gambling’s growing influence.
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